Rural mail box



Dec. 29, 1964 G. J. JOEHNK 3,163,356

RURAL MAIL BOX Filed Aug. '7, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l //v VENTOP. GEO/96E J. JOE/INK 147' 7" OP/VEK Dec. 29, 1964 G. J. JOEHNK 3,163,356

RURAL MAIL BOX Filed Aug. 7, 1963 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lit g3 w GEORGE J. JOEHNK I24 A?! By flTTORA/EX any United States Patent 3,163,355 R MAIL EGX George I. Joehnir, RR. 1, Clinton, Iowa Filed Aug. 7, 1963, Ser. No. 390,581 3 Claims. (Cl. 232-35) This invention relates to improvements in structure for rural mail boxes and has as one of its important objects the provision of an improved mail box which will make the task of the rural carrier in delivering and collecting mail considerably more simple, easy and convenient.

As is well known, the rural mail carrier in servicing the mail boxes on his route uses an automobile and because of the traffic pattern in this country, such boxes are located on the right-hand side of the road in the direction of travel. Most carriers, it is believed, endeavor to service the mail boxes without leaving the vehicle and since such vehicles are provided with left-hand drives, it is apparent that the carrier must do considerable reaching and stretching at times through the right-hand door window of the automobile. Certain attempts have been made heretofore in providing extensible features for such mail boxes in various forms of complexity but it does not appear that any of them have practical acceptance and usage.

Accordingly, the present invention contemplates the provision of an improved but simple extensible mail box structure which will permit the carrier to easily and conveniently slide the mail containing compartment of the box toward and away from his vehicle and thereby greatly facilitate his task of delivering or collecting the mail.

A further object includes a mail box of the above class where the door is automatically opened and closed during movement of the slidable mail compartment and also serves to prevent any contents of such compartment from accidentally falling therefrom when the door is open.

Another feature of this invention resides in the provision of a dag signalling means which is automatically actuated as the box is opened to indicate to the householder that mail has been deposited or picked up.

This invention also has for an object the provision of an adjustable support post and box mount to facilitate maintaining the box at a proper height and on a level plane.

A further object is to provide an improved rural mail box having the several features outlined above andwhich is constructed so that it has a minimum number of parts so as to be for all practical purposes free of maintenance and repair problems.

Other objects and advantages of this invention reside in the details of construction and correlation of the various parts and will be apparent as the description proceeds.

This invention consists of novel parts and combination of parts to be hereinafter described whereby the objects set fonth are attained, as pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of this rural mail box showing the signal flag in position indicating there is material to be picked up by the mail carrier,

FIG. '2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the box shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of this mail box in extended position for removing or receiving mail,

4 is a cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective rear end view of the slidable mail holding compartment,

FIG. 6 is an enlarged elevational view of the support post showing the box mount secured thereto, and

FIG. 7 is an elevational view taken from the line 77 to illustrate the levelling means for the box mount.

Referring to the drawings, this new mail box comprises generally an outer box 14 having a hinged door 12 and an inner box or mail containing compartment 14 which is telescopically extensible relative to box 10 as will be referred to later in more detail.

Box 10 is closed on all sides except the front Idand includes the bottom 18, sides 20 and 22, arcuate top of Well-known contour 24 and the rear or back 26. An elongated channel-shaped support bracket 28 is secured longitudinally on top 24 to which any suitable name and address identification tag or plate (not shown) may be attached. Box 14 is similarly shaped as box 10 except for member 23 and is sufficiently smaller to permit of its nesting within box 10 as shown. Box 14 includes the bottom 39, sides 32 and 34, top 36 and back or rear 38. Door 12 is designed to open downwardly and outwardly relative to box front '16 and is thus hingedly attached as at 40 to depending cars 42 at each side of the front end of box bottom 18, it being noted that only one such ear is shown in the drawings. A spring 44 connects to a hook 46 on the lower inside of door 12 and to another hook 48 depending from bottom 18 so as to normally urge door 12 into its closed position as shown in FIG. 1. Door 12 also includes the flanged edge 50 for overlapping the front edge 16 of box 10 to assure protection from the elements.

On the inner side of the respective box sides 2! and 22 of box 10 are the oppositely disposed like channelshaped track assemblies 52. which are parallel to and spaced slightly above box bottom 39 and which extend between the back 26 and front end :16 of box 19. Each assembly 52 includes the upper inverted U-shaped track 54 and the opposed lower U-shaped track 56. On the outer side of each respective side 32 and 34- of the inner box 14 in the lower rear portion thereof-there is mounted the spaced wheels or rollers 58 and 60 having a diameter to permit their rollable engagement in track assembly 52. Wheels 58 are oppositely disposed to each other as are wheels 60 as shown. While the exact location of wheels 58. and 69 may be varied, it is pointed out that preferably I have placed the axes of :wheels 56 about one-half inch from back 38 and one inch above bottom 39 with the axes of wheels 66 being only seven-eighths of an inch above bottom 3% and with a six inch spacing between the axes of wheels 58 and 60. Thus arranged, box 14 is telescopically extensible relative to box '16 with wheels 58 and 60 riding in track assemblies 52. 'A bolt 62 transversely through the respective sides 26 and 22 of box 10 near the front end 16 carries a nut 64 disposed in track assembly 52 intermediate tracks 54- and 56 and serves as an abutment for wheels 64 to limit the extensible movement of box 14 and thus prevents it from being completely removed from' or falling out of box 10. It will be appreciated that by locating Wheels 58 and 60 in the rearward portion of box 14, an adequate length of box 14 can be extended and still be roller supported. However, the weight of the forward end of box 14 and any mail therein may tend to tilt the box downwardly and thus the location of wheels 58 and so relative to botside 34 on the same plane.

ment from its supporting ears.

tom 30 permit the forwardmost Wheels 60 to run in the maintained. Preferably in this regard, wheels 58 and 60 are of ball bearing construction.

With reference now to FIG. a pair of closely spaced ears 66 and 68 project rearwardly from the back 38 of box'14 near side 32 about midway of the vertical height of back 38 and a single car 76 is similarly arranged near Ears 68 and 70 have the respective transverse registering holes 72 and 74 and em 66 has a keyhole type opening 76. A rod 78 is designed to extend through holes 76, 72 and 74 to be supported by ears 66, 68 and 70 as shown transversely of back 38. Rod 78, near one end portion, is provided with short longitudinally arranged boss 89 that can negotiate hole a 76 because of its shape but cannot pass through hole 72 so that when rod 78 is arranged as in FIG.- 5, and boss 39 is rotated out of registration with the keyhole portion of hole 76, rod 78 is eltectively secured against displace- End portion 82 of rod 78 extends transversely through an elongated slot 84 in side 20 of box where it is secured as by a cotter pin 86 to one end of a pull rod 88 that extends therefrom parallel to the outer side of box it toward and proportion 90; Rod 38 passes through and is supported by an apcrtured bracket 92 at the forward end of box side 20. Rod 88 is provided with the longitudinally spaced undercut notches 94 and 95 and an intermediate notch 98 on the upper surface thereof.

I slot 84- by rotating boss 8% to register with hole 76 so jecting beyond end 16 where it terminates in the handle and bracket 1% includes the diagonally opposed stops 1'10 and 1 12 to limit the movement of standard 10 Slot 84 is provided :with the overhanging rain and weather shield 114. a

A mounting plate 116 (-FIG. 4) is secured to the'bottom 18 from the spaced support plates 113 and 12:? depend for attachment to a post 1 22 or the like by vertically spaced bolts 124. For this purpose, plates 11% and 129 have an arcuate slot 126 for the lowermost bolt 124 whereby plate 1-1-6 may be levelled if post 122 should'be out of vertical alignment. 1 also preferably provide post 122 for telescopic arrangement with a ground engaging post extension 123 F-1G. 6) which includes the set screws 136 and permits this mail box to be adjusted relative to ground level, if necessary.

In the use of this mail box when constructed as de-.

scribed, it will normally be closed as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The vertical or up-position of flag 192 is usually the signal from the householder to the mail carrier that mail has been deposited by the householder to be V picked up and thus he will stop even though he has no mail to deliver. *To place flag 102 as in FIG. 1, standard 109 is moved to vertical position where it abuts stops 110 and 1'12 and end 168 straddles and engages notch 9'8 in the pull rod 88. Such rod 38 will be in its most inwardly position '(FIG. 2) where notch 94- engages bracket 92 to hold it against accidental movement. To open this mail box, the carrier will either manually or by means of a hooked pole (not shown) engagehandle 90, elevate it sutficiently for notch 94 to clear bracket 92 and pull it outwardly. As thisfis done,,the lower end 108 of standard 106 is moved forwardly causing flag 162 to move rearwardlyand falllto the nonactive position shown in FIG. 3, such fall being limited by stops 1-16 and 1 1-2. At the sametirne, as rod 38 is' pulled outwardly, it will slide box -14 forwardly on wheels 58"and tlfbecause of its connection to rod 78 and the forward end of box 14 will bear against and force open the spring-loaded door 12. In the fully open position of this box, FIG.

4 3, notch $6 in rod 88 will come to rest in bracket 92 as wheels 66 are stopped by nut 64 on bolt 62 and this will maintain the box in open position while being serviced.

During the time this box is opened (FIG. 3) it will be noted that the upper flange portion 50 of door -12 serves as a protecting shoulder or curb across the bottom of box 14 and thus prevents anything from accidentally sliding or falling out. To close the box, notch 96 in rod 38 is freed from engagement with bracket 92 and handle 96 is pushed toward box 19. Very little efiort is required to close this box since the force of spring 44 in automatically closing door 12. as rod 88 is pushed will substantially complete the closure due to the easy sliding of box '14 on wheels 58 and 60.

Should it be desirable for any reason to remove box 14 completely from box 1%), bolt 6-2. is removed and by removing pin 82, rod 73 may be easily withdrawn through that box 14 can be completely Withdrawn. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that this mail box has practically no parts of a type that are susceptible to such wear and tear as to require maintenance and service and it is therefore submitted that the invention shown and described is aptly suited to achieve the purposes intended and is characterized by a combination of highly useful and mutually cooperating elements that combine their respective and proportionate functions in accomplishing the objects sought to be obtained.

it ,Will be understood that the phraseology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not for limitation and that modifications and changes in the construction and arrangement of this invention can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit and purpose thereof. It is thus intended to cover by the claims, any modified forms of structure or mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim: I l. A rural mail box structure comprising:

an outer box open only on one end and provided with a longitudinal slot in one side,

means on said outer box for attachment to a support, opposed track assemblies within said outer box and secured to the respective sides so as to be parallel with the bottom of said box, an inner box open only on one end and correspondingly positioned relative to said outer box, roller means on said inner box engaged with said respective track assemblies so that said inner box is telescopically extensible and retractable relative to said outer box, bracket means on the closed end of said inner box, a rod removably secured to said bracket means so that onecnd projects through said slot, 7

a pull rod connected at one end to the projecting end' of said rod member and extending therefrom forwardly of the open ends of said boxes,

a bracket support on said outer box adjacent the open end thereof for said pull rod, a door for the open end of said outer box hingedly secured at the bottom so as to open downwardly 5 movement in its respective extended and retracted position relative to said outer box.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 including:

a flag carrying standard pivotally attached intermediate its ends to said outer box so as to be movable toward and away from a vertical position,

a notch in said pull rod,

means on said standard for engaging said notch to hold said standard in vertical position, and

movement of said pull rod to withdraw said inner box from said outer box effecting movement of said standard away from vertical position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Spencer 248-185 Brown 232-17 Coon 232-17 Hill 232-17 Cole 232-17 Steen 232-17 Luss 232-33 Ledgerwood 232-17 FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A RURAL MAIL BOX STRUCTURE COMPRISING: AN OUTER BOX OPEN ONLY ON ONE END AND PROVIDED WITH A LONGITUDINAL SLOT IN ONE SIDE, MEANS ON SAID OUTER BOX FOR ATTACHMENT TO A SUPPORT, OPPOSED TRACK ASSEMBLIES WITHIN SAID OUTER BOX AND SECURED TO THE RESPECTIVE SIDES SO AS TO BE PARALLEL WITH THE BOTTOM OF SAID BOX, AN INNER BOX OPEN ONLY ON ONE END AND CORRESPONDINGLY POSITIONED RELATIVE TO SAID OUTER BOX, ROLLER MEANS ON SAID INNER BOX ENGAGED WITH SAID RESPECTIVE TRACK ASSEMBLIES SO THAT SAID INNER BOX IS TELESCOPICALLY EXTENSIBLE AND RETRACTABLE RELATIVE TO SAID OUTER BOX, BRACKET MEANS ON THE CLOSED END OF SAID INNER BOX, A ROD REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID BRACKET MEANS SO THAT ONE END PROJECTS THROUGH SAID SLOT, A PULL ROD CONNECTED AT ONE END TO THE PROJECTING END OF SAID ROD MEMBER AND EXTENDING THEREFROM FORWARDLY OF THE OPEN ENDS OF SAID BOXES, A BRACKET SUPPORT ON SAID OUTER BOX ADJACENT THE OPEN END THEREOF FOR SAID PULL ROD, A DOOR FOR THE OPEN END OF SAID OUTER BOX HINGEDLY SECURED AT THE BOTTOM SO AS TO OPEN DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY. SPRING MEANS CONNECTING SAID DOOR TO SAID OUTER BOX TO NORMALLY URGE IT INTO CLOSED POSITION, MOVEMENT OF SAID INNER BOX OUTWARDLY UNDER A PULL ON SAID PULL ROD EFFECTING OPENING ON SAID DOOR, SAID DOOR AUTOMATICALLY RETURNING TO CLOSED POSITION WHEN SAID PULL ROD IS PUSHED INWARDLY, AND STOP MEANS IN SAID TRACK ASSEMBLIES TO LIMIT THE MOVEMENT OF SAID INNER BOX OUTWARDLY FROM SAID OUTER BOX. 